This "virtual newspaper for an aquatic world" contains musings, science, facts and opinions-both profound and mundane-about the River region, its people and natural resources, and their nexus to the Washington, DC scene.
Comments and other written contributions are always appreciated.

Friday, February 28, 2014

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Weekly News

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

New USGS Maps and Tables Describe Nutrient Loading to Gulf of Mexico from Mississippi and Other River Basins
The USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program has made new maps and data tables available online that describe nutrient loading to major estuaries throughout the U.S. These new data presentations describe the major sources and contributing areas of nutrients to 115 estuaries along the coastal U.S., including nutrient loading from the Mississippi River Basin, and other watersheds into the northern Gulf of Mexico. In addition to the new web pages, persons interested in a particular stream can now utilize an online, interactive SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regressions on Watershed attributes) nutrient model Decision-Support System (DSS) to estimate how reductions in upstream nutrient sources affect downstream nutrient loads at a stream outlet. More information is available on the NAWQA "Tracking the Source and Quantity of Nutrients to the Nation's Estuaries" web site, at the links under "Water Quality," below, and in our summary blog article.

Capitol Hill Next Week - What to Watch For

The President is scheduled to release an overview of the Administration's Fiscal Year 2015 budget proposal to Congress on Tuesday, March 4 (you will be able to view that at this Office of Management and Budget web site). Release of the President's proposal will kick off a series of budget hearings on Capitol Hill during the subsequent weeks Some of those have already been scheduled for next week, beginning on Wednesday morning. We have summarized the water resource-related budget hearings along with several other Mississippi River Basin water-related Congressional happenings here (budget details will be released by the White House during the following week).

White House says that it will veto the House GOP anti-regulatory legislation if it passes Congress (H.R. 2542, "Regulatory Flexibility Act") http://ow.ly/u1qJ4 (see the bill here: http://ow.ly/u1qX0)

New Horinko Group report looks at policy, planning and practice implications of greening the contaminated site remediation business ow.ly/u1vLa

USEPA's National Aquatic Resource Surveys Campus Research Challenge gives college students opportunity to use national data to conduct scientific research, analysis; Entries due May 15 http://ow.ly/u1ONC

Politics and People-

Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) will try for a third time to defeat incumbent Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA-2) http://goo.gl/EUw3Ds

Former Louisiana coastal adviser, Garret Graves, announces campaign for Louisiana 6th District U.S. House seat http://ow.ly/u3xBA

Leading GOP candidate Walt Rogers drops out of race for Iowa-01 seat, will instead run for Iowa House seat reelection http://goo.gl/9vVQsy

Last Word -

Rep. John D. Dingell

“I’m not going to be carried out feet first.” - Rep. John D. Dingell, a long-time Michigan Democratic Member of the U.S. House, speaking to the Detroit Newsas he announced on Monday that he will not seek re-election. Dingell added, "I find serving in the House to be obnoxious."